8/13/2019 December Feature Story

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/december-feature-story 1/3Page 20 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Peoria — December 2013

feature story

experiencing bleeding, clotting, and other blood disorders.

nonprofit multidisciplinary evaluation, treatment, and rese

facility provides health care services and education, coordin

care in collaboration with health care professionals to help pat

experience life to its fullest.

  “We do everything to ensure the best possible care fo

patients,” says Dr. Michael Tarantino, Medical Director

Founder of BCDI. “BCDI is the only recognized bleeding and

A t a time when health care is changing, The Bleeding & Clot-

ting Disorders Institute in Peoria is assisting patients in

making the transition while providing expert, comprehensive

care to increase their quality of life.

Delivering Personalized Health Care

Founded April 5, 2010, The Bleeding & Clotting Disorders Insti-

tute exists to provide professional, family-oriented care for patients

Dr. Tarantino and Dr. Madden discuss one of the many research studies conducted at BCDI.

The Man Behind the ScienceOptimizing Patient Health

By Sara Browning

8/13/2019 December Feature Story

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/december-feature-story 2/3

8/13/2019 December Feature Story

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/december-feature-story 3/3Page 22 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Peoria — December 2013

feature story continued

investigator on an international study to help children with the

ease. In addition, Dr. Tarantino is collaborating with Dr. Greg

stner to form the first ITP comprehensive care clinic in the cou

  Having published between 40 and 50 articles related to IT

medical journals and having given numerous presentations on

disorder, Dr. Tarantino says BCDI has treated ITP patients ac

the country, even as far away as California, and partners clo

with the Platelet Disorders Support Association (PDSA) and

served on PDSA’s Medical Advisory Board for the past decFor more information, visit www.pdsa.org.

 As experts in the ir fie ld, the physicians and staff at BCD

heavily involved with community education. For the past four y

BCDI has participated in the Women’s Lifestyle Show and o

area conventions to promote awareness of von Willebrand Dis

(VWD) and other bleeding disorders in women.

 According to Dr. Tarant ino: “People with VWD take long

stop bleeding than normal. Heavy menstrual bleeding is one o

symptoms. At BCDI, we work with women’s gynecologists to a

unnecessary surgery to treat heavy menstrual bleeding.”

Tested and Proven

  BCDI’s stellar reputation would not be possible without the

of trained medical professionals on staff. “The National HemopFoundation’s Medical Advisory Board uses guidelines for tra

purposes as well as for specific credentials that bleeding diso

centers’ staff and physicians must have in order to treat patie

explains Dr. Tarantino.

Dr. Tarantino has extensive training in the specialty of bl

ing and clotting disorders. He completed a fellowship in Ped

Hematology and Oncology at the University of Wisconsin in

and is currently a professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at the

versity of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria. Today, he ha

years of experience caring for children and adults with blee

and clotting disorders. BCDI’s 20-member staff encompasses

years cumulative experience in bleeding and clotting disorder

 As hea lth care continues to move forward with the adve

the Affordable Care Act, nurse coordinators and medical sworkers help patients navigate through the recent changes in M

icaid, changes implemented by the Affordable Care Act and si

reforms taking place in the private insurance market.

  “With the changing health care environment, I think people

need to exercise caution about which health care plan they ch

and look carefully at the qualifications of different physicians,”

Dr. Tarantino. “BCDI is here to help patients in every way poss

Whether transitioning to a more affordable health care plan, fin

the right specialist or reaching out to the community, we m

patients’ quality of life our number one priority.”

  Michael D. Tarantino, MD, completed his residency in pedia

at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center in 1990. H

currently a professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at the Univeof Illinois College of Medicine. He is board-certified in Ped

Hematology/Oncology and brings 24 years of experience c

for children and adults with bleeding and clotting disorders.

For more information on

Bleeding & Clotting Disorders Institute, visit

www.ilbcdi.org or call 309-692-5337 or toll

free at 877-335-2234. Office hours are from

8 a.m.– 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. BCDI

is located at 6811 North Knoxville, Peoria, IL.

but it is also a commodity. Patients must go to a place where the

practitioners and staff are specially trained experts.”

When it comes to delivering expert care to patients with rare

blood disorders, BCDI continually surpasses expectations. An

award winning, nationally recognized hematologist appointed as a

representative on the board of directors of the Medical and Scien-

tific Advisory Council (MASAC) of the National Hemophilia Founda-

tion (NHF), Dr. Tarantino’s work to combat hemophilia, Idiopathic

Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) and other blood disorders has

led to advanced research on behalf of patients living with these

diseases.

One of Dr. Tarantino’s signature contributions to the hemophilia

community was his role as lead investigator for the clinical devel-opment of the first fully synthetic blood factor product. Today,

it is the primary product used to treat and prevent bleeding in

hemophilia patients. In honor of his contributions to patients with

this disease, Dr. Tarantino was awarded the highest honor in the

bleeding disorders community: the prestigious Kenneth Brinkhous

Physician of the Year Award, in 2012.

Additionally, BCDI delivers expert care by striving to remain on

the cutting edge of ITP research and treatment. ITP is an acquired

blood disorder that causes easy or excessive bruising and bleed-

ing due to unusually low platelet levels.

Dr. Tarantino has been involved in treatment that increases

platelet production in persons with ITP and has served as the lead

Nurse Practitioner Dana Stephens and Assistant Medical Director

Dr. Renee Madden review a patients medical history.